Family Sciomyzidae - Marsh Flies

Classification · Other Common Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Food · Internet References

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Diptera (Flies)

No Taxon (Acalyptratae)

Family Sciomyzidae (Marsh Flies)

Other Common Names

Snail-killing Flies

Numbers

191 species in 21 genera in North America (nearctica.com)

Size

5-10 mm

Identification

body yellowish, brownish, or grayish; antennae extend forward noticeably, a distinctive feature; wings often spotted or otherwise marked

Range

throughout North America and other regions of the world

Habitat

adults around marshes, lakes, ponds, or wooded areas

larvae are aquatic

Food

larvae feed on freshwater or terrestrial snails, slugs, fingernail clams, or snail eggs (How to Know the Insects by Roger Bland, 1978)

Internet References

common name reference plus pinned adult images of North American species (Insects of Cedar Creek, Minnesota)

common name reference plus pinned adult images of European species (bioimages.org.uk)

Contributed by Richard Leung on 8 October, 2004 - 7:16pm
Additional contributions by Robin McLeod
Last updated 7 April, 2005 - 12:09pm

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